Which condition is defined as a prolonged level of stress beyond the individual's ability to cope?

• A. Acute Stress
• B. Chronic Stress
• C. Physical Stress
• D. Headwork

Answer: (B)

Chronic stress is the state described: stress that lasts a long time and overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. When stress remains persistent, the body’s stress response stays activated, which can wear down emotional resilience, disrupt sleep, impair concentration, and degrade performance over time. Acute stress, in contrast, is a short-term, intense reaction to a specific event that subsides once the event passes. “Physical stress” and “headwork” aren’t standard terms used to describe this duration of stress in typical stress theory, so they don’t fit the definition. Therefore, the best fit is chronic stress.